The 10 best northern lights agencies and guides in Tromsø!

Agencies updated (prices, reputation) for the 2025/2026 season

Seeing the northern lights is a dream for a lot of people, but it isn’t always easy, especially at first when you’re not quite sure how to go about it.

On this blog I’ve already explained several times HOW TO CHASE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, whether you can see them from the city and especially in NORWAY, but for all sorts of reasons you might prefer to book through an agency. Sometimes it’s necessary, sometimes you can do without.

But above all you need to choose it carefully so that the experience, which should be magical, doesn’t turn sour. It’s rare, but it happens. So the goal of this article isn’t to push you into booking an agency when you’re in TROMSØ, nor to stop you from doing it, but rather to help you figure out whether or not you need one, and above all how to choose it, based on a few essential criteria.

When you plan your itinerary in Tromsø, look at how it can fit in, especially around the big daytime activities where it can cause scheduling issues.

By the way, why do I talk so much about Tromsø? Because it’s one of the best places to see the northern lights! (and for me even the best)

First you’ll find the list of the best agencies and all the options. Then you’ll get all the recommendations to choose your agency.

The best northern lights agencies and guides in Tromsø

Right above I’ve put my top 3. With the 8 that follow, that makes an expanded top 10 if you like 😀

Tromsø really has a lot of agencies. That’s normal, it’s the capital of the northern lights. Some stand out from the crowd with their seriousness, their reputation and also the size of their groups.

So you have to make choices. Choices based on my knowledge of the guides, their behaviour out in the field, on the road, the ratings they get and the reviews. I’ll explain all of that later in the article.

For the prices, I list the high-season ones, and since the agencies change them often, I try to keep them up to date regularly too. But in low season (September, October) prices are often much lower! Note that all tours are run in English:

You want a northern lights guide who speaks your language

In Tromsø, quite a lot of people in the tourism sector speak English and other foreign languages. If you are not that comfortable in English or if you prefer having a guide speaking your own language, then let’s find some solutions. But you have to know that tours are generally made in English.

“Generally” because there are some exceptions:

• GERMAN & SPANISH: go with Blue Puffin
• FRENCH & ITALIAN: Mirko, from Your Tromso Guide, has dedicated days by language. A few days a week in French, others in English, others in Italian… so don’t hesitate to check, and incidentally he’s a very good guide too.
• ARABIC : quite new in the game but try ALSHEMAL
• CHINESE : your dedicated tour in Chinese is Mega Reise GU

Other good agencies in Tromsø

Because yes, I told you there were plenty. These ones are good too, you can go with them without any worries, it’s just that I know them a little less well.

The first ones tend to fill up faster. But even so, you should be able to find a spot, just don’t leave it to the very last minute!

There are still others, I won’t list them all here otherwise it’ll be too much. But you can find them in the summary table at the end of the article, with the key info (rating, price, duration, group size…).

Seeing the northern lights by bus

I’ll admit I’m not a fan of the bus. The idea isn’t to put you off it, because if there are more and more of them, it clearly means they meet a need.

So as I was saying, there are quite a few in Tromsø. It’s the useful option when:

• you want to see them with an agency but you only have a small budget
• you book at the last minute and all the agencies are taken
• the noise, the light, the crowd don’t bother you, you just want to see the lights!

So buses have some big drawbacks:

• it’s 40 people, dropped off at the same spot, and sometimes not far from another bus, because a bus’s goal is for you to see the lights, not for you to be completely at peace
• so noise, lots of light, it’s by the roadside
• they go for the simplest option, it works, but they won’t be as meticulous as a “normal” guide

That said, it works, they drive the route, the durations are a bit shorter than a smaller tour, they go less far (but when you need to go to Finland, they generally do it).

So, if it doesn’t bother you or if you have no choice, it’s clearly better than nothing 🙂

Pay attention to reviews and ratings. I’m not putting any bad company here, everything should be checked in advance. But maybe you’ll find something.

Find the best agency to see the northern lights!

Taking a cruise to see the northern lights

Hey, now that’s rather dreamy, isn’t it? Boarding a nice boat from the port of Tromsø to go and see the northern lights, that’s pretty great. Now I have to be honest, I’ve never done it so far. But it’s coming!

There’s only one thing, one condition, you need to watch out for to do this cruise: the weather.

If the sky is clear, then you’ll indeed have the chance to see the northern lights. If the sky is cloudy, being on a boat won’t help you because they don’t go particularly far. The luxury boat does, because it’s smaller, but these boats aren’t made to sail 100 km to avoid the clouds. You’ll stay in the area, just further from the city lights.

That said, you’ve probably noticed from all my articles about cruises in Norway, I loooove being on the water (but not in it), so being out in the middle of the night, in the fjords of Tromsø, that must be really wonderful 🙂

Here are 4 different experiences below, with one that really stands out from the rest, but pricier.

The other activities under the northern lights

All the daytime activities can also be done at night, and it’s a different kind of experience! You can go see the reindeer, you could go snowmobiling in particular. But be careful, since these activities take place in a fixed spot, the northern lights are a bonus, meaning that if the weather is bad, you’ll have to hope for a stroke of luck; it’s not like a classic northern lights tour where you go and find them. But I think it’s still really nice, and even more so if you get that little bit of luck that helps 🙂

Why book an agency to see the northern lights in Tromsø?

To be completely honest, during my first two stays in TROMSØ I booked a provider to see the northern lights. The first evening to learn how to do it, how it worked and to build up a bit of confidence, being afraid to drive on the snow, not knowing where to look.

But faced with the huge number of agencies and guides, I asked myself quite a few questions. Since my goal was to see the lights but also to learn how to photograph them, I moved away from the classic agencies and went with photographers who offered tours. And, honestly, it was pretty good.

What’s more, over all the time I’ve been going, I meet guides on site, some have become friends, so I’ve learned to tell the “good guide” from the “bad guide”. It’s a bit like the good and the bad hunter, with the aurora instead of the game.

Because you don’t drive

The northern lights are far more visible away from the lights of the city, the villages, and streetlights in particular. And what’s more, depending on the weather, you need to be mobile. Now, if you don’t have a driving licence or if, like me the first time, you’re a bit scared of driving on snow and ice, agencies meet that need and it’s really convenient.

You can see the northern lights without moving, because renting a car isn’t essential, but unless you’re in an isolated cabin it’s rare to be in the best conditions in terms of light. In this article I explain how to see the northern lights from the city in Tromsø.

Because you don’t know where to go or how to do it

That’s the main reason I took a guide the first time, I didn’t know where to go or how to look. Well, fortunately I’ve improved since then. Agency guides know the good spots and know how to read the weather. But yes, I can confirm that at first you’re lost, you put pressure on yourself if you don’t see them, you want to maximise your chances. So to learn how to do it, I don’t think it’s a crazy idea.

In this (super long) article I explain the basics about the northern lights and how to find them.

To maximise your chances of seeing them

Guides know where to go, they study the weather and the wind to figure out where the clear skies are. When it’s ugly above one fjord, it doesn’t mean it’s ugly everywhere in the region. You need to be able to be mobile, change spots and above all know where to go. You have to study the weather, the wind direction, anticipate where the clouds are heading. And the guides all know each other in a region, they give each other tips, share a common WhatsApp group. It’s not a competition, and that’s pretty cool.

That comes with experience. When you become addicted to the lights, you’ll know how to use the different apps and anticipate just by looking at the sky. I never thought I’d turn into a weather forecaster, and yet here we are.

For the weather, the Yr.no app and site are decent for an overview. But above all I recommend Ventusky, which gives very precise cloud cover hour by hour. Beyond the weather at a given moment, look at what’s coming, how it’s going to move and in which direction.

To be with a guide

The big advantage of booking through an agency or a guide is… that you’re with a guide. Meaning you don’t have much to do, you don’t have to drive for hours (really, to find a patch of clear sky you can drive 3 hours all the way to Finland for example) and generally the guide takes really good care of you. They’ll make a fire, have coffee/tea, some snacks to nibble on and often plenty of stories to tell. While waiting for the lights, which can take a while, you’re with the group, with the guide, it passes the time in an interesting way.

To learn how to photograph the northern lights

This one is important too, but it won’t interest everyone. Depending on the agency you choose, you can have photographers with you who’ll teach you the basics of northern lights photography. It’s the criterion I chose my two guides on a few years back, since I wanted to have lovely memories.

The best ones I’ve found for that are WANDERING OWL in Tromsø. They have a few very high-level photographers and go looking for slightly different spots.

At NORTHERN HORIZON they also have good photographers for example.

Find the best agency to see the northern lights!

The downsides of booking through an agency

Honestly, I won’t lie, there are some:

• You’re not in control of your schedule; if the guide says we’re heading back, then we head back (around midnight / 1 am)
• You’re with other people, so it depends a lot on the group’s vibe. If there are 2-3 who are loud, it can get annoying, but that’s really rare
• It has a certain cost. At least €150 per person. Now the best agencies start around €195, small groups around €250. It lasts 6-8 hours but it’s not cheap
• There can be a nasty surprise with the agency, a guide who’s not having a good day, who doesn’t go far and not to a nice spot; it can happen, but there you’ll need to choose your agency carefully
• Ending up in too big a group, a bus, that’s tricky.

But what’s certain is that not seeing the northern lights won’t be the agency’s fault. Indeed, since all the agencies and all the guides have the same information, if there’s no aurora, there’s none for anyone. And apart from very rare exceptions, they’ll all do their utmost to go find a patch of clear sky. But if the sky is clear and the lights aren’t there, well, they’re just not there.

How to choose your agency to see the northern lights in Tromsø

Here are a few criteria to pay attention to when choosing your agency and thus avoid unpleasant surprises.

The price

I’d advise against being too focused on the price. Generally the good agencies charge between €170 and €250; if it’s less, there’s something fishy. Or else it’s the autumn deals, that’s entirely possible, look at the reputation and if it’s a great agency slashing prices for September-October, take advantage of it!

Either they’re overfilling, or they don’t go very far, or the service is downgraded, no real guide, nothing to drink, just a random driver and that’s it. So don’t push the price down too much.

The group size

I’ve always chosen small groups (between 3 and 8) and I’ve also seen coaches roll in. It’s cheaper, but coaches are a bit of a nightmare. With the lights, you want to enjoy them, not have noise everywhere. It’s a special moment, of calm and serenity, so when it’s loud, it’s tricky, and the experience is clearly downgraded. That said, it suits some tourists, especially those on a tight budget, but you won’t fully make the most of it.

Up to 12 is fine, 6-8 is really good. But the majority now are the 15-seat minibuses. Those are the ones you see everywhere. They’re okay, but honestly if you have the option to be in a smaller group, I prefer that. But it’s more expensive! (there, I said it).

For small groups, 6-8 people, here’s what I recommend:

• Creative Vacations, Vidar speaks French, his groups are 8 maximum
• Arctic Photo Guide, groups of 6 maximum
• Greenlander, groups of 8 maximum
• Northbound, 8 max too
• Rise Experience, 8 max
• Your Tromso Guide, same, 8 people maximum

The size of the agency

It’s a silly thing, but big operators don’t necessarily provide the same quality of service. I prefer small agencies because it’s more personal, less of a factory, and generally the groups are smaller. On top of that, they hustle harder, I feel. When I asked the locals I knew which agencies to avoid, only big operators came up. I’m not saying that all the tours from all the big operators are bad, but I recommend favouring smaller agencies.

The company’s reputation

This is super important, look at the reviews for this or that agency. Personally I prefer to go through resellers such as GetYourGuide, Viator, which display the agency’s name, because they publish the reviews. Sort the reviews in chronological order, otherwise it can be biased, the best reviews are often shown first. The overall rating matters but especially the most recent reviews.

DO NOT go with a “guide” who has no rating, no track record. Don’t go with the repurposed taxis (you see more and more of them), they know nothing about it.

I don’t usually name the ones you shouldn’t go with. But I’ve witnessed, on several occasions, dangerous behaviour and an accident from these two: Amazing Arctic Tours and Green Gold of Norway. So for your safety, I advise against them.

Also very important, some “agencies” promise you’ll see the lights on 3-hour tours. It’s a scam, they do 3 tours a night and in 3 hours you only have time for the round trip. And you never know when the lights will show up. Really, avoid that, like the one called Via di Bella.

Whether there are photographers among the guides

When an agency says they have photographers, don’t hesitate to go and check, to see what kind of photos they take. For me it’s an important criterion because a photographer will have an eye for finding the good spots, the most photogenic ones, since they’re there for themselves too. On top of that they give tips for photographing the northern lights, which is no small thing.

How an evening with a guide unfolds

Honestly, it’s really simple.

• the guide has prepared their route in advance based on the weather, knowing which direction to head
• generally you meet at a specific spot between 6 and 7 pm; in TROMSØ it’s in front of the Radisson for example
• there’s at least 30 minutes of driving, first to make sure you get away from light pollution and then to find a nice spot, without too many people. But it can go up to 3 hours of driving depending on the weather
• the guide makes a fire, which is pretty handy because standing still in winter gets a bit chilly
• you’ll also have something to nibble on, hot drinks, that’s nice
• if the weather isn’t great, then you’ll move until you find a spot with kinder weather
• don’t hesitate to ask the guide for tips on taking photos
• keep your nose pointed up at the sky
• and generally you pack up around 1 am, after the big aurora that’s just ended, the ideal being to get back between 1 and 2 am. But if you’ve gone further (e.g. Kilpisjärvi 3 hours from Tromsø), it’ll obviously be later.

Generally, there’s a refund only if the outing is cancelled before departure. If the outing is still planned and the weather isn’t good or there are no northern lights, then there’s no refund. On the other hand they give discounts to go out again with them.

Find the best agency to see the northern lights!

Don’t forget before you leave

Here’s your checklist before heading out to see the northern lights:

• don’t forget to have charged your camera batteries (because the cold drains them much faster)
• and to have freed up space on your memory card
• to bring the tripod, essential for long exposures
• bring water and something to eat, you never know
• charge your phone battery
• bring a headlamp
• bring extra layers of clothing, socks, gloves, a hat, so you don’t freeze on the spot and can quickly add/remove them

All the northern lights agencies in Tromsø

Conclusion

There you go, now you know everything! Not everyone needs to book an agency to see the northern lights, just as it’s nothing to look down on even if you’ve rented a car. It has the huge advantage of being easy, you let yourself be guided by those who know how to find them, ideally with quality service. It has a cost, but it’s rare for the experience to be poor quality. Nature is unpredictable, the northern lights can appear at any time and even never show up even if the weather is clear.

Don’t forget that the lights are visible from early September to mid-April. Look, depending on what you want to see and do, at what the best season to come to Tromsø is!

So enjoy it, don’t hesitate to go for it, it’s an exceptional spectacle. The only risk you take is wanting to go back and becoming addicted.

• Find your agency to see the northern lights

If you’re interested in Tromsø and the activities around the city, you should take a look at these articles:

• How to plan your trip to Tromsø
• What are the 10 best activities to do in Tromsø
• All the activities to do in Tromsø, summer and winter
• How to work out your budget for a stay in Tromsø
• Find the best hotels in Tromsø
• The 10 places to see the northern lights in Tromsø
• Where and when to see whales and orcas in Tromsø
• Go dog sledding in Tromsø
• A one-week itinerary in Tromsø
• Discover the superb island of Kvaløya!